This paper will introduce bicycling as a planning strategy, review the existing conditions and the potential for improving the conditions for bicycling in the region, and examine the effects of implementing this strategy.  This paper is intended to be a planning tool—to initiate dialogue and discussion on the possible impacts of improving bicycling conditions in our region.

This paper examines the impacts of improved bicycle facilities on transportation, health, the environment, the economy, and community character.  Improvement could take the form of new bikeways, changes to existing transportation infrastructure to make bicycling easier and safer, new laws or ordinances protecting or promoting cyclists, educational and outreach programs designed to encourage and increase bicycling, or even enforcement programs intended to improve safety for bicyclists and other users of roadways and paths. Our research represents an attempt to answer the broad question: “What would happen, regionally and in your communities, if the region improved bicycling conditions?”